Son of character actor 'Robert Keith with his father. Began acting in radio programs and on stage before World War II. Joined the Marines and served as a machine gunner. Returned to Broadway stage after the war and branched out into television and film. Worked as an extra in several films before achieving speaking roles and subsequent stardom.
His first son died in childhood. Daughter, Daisy Keith committed suicide 10 weeks before her fathers suicide, aged 27.
Son of Robert Keith and Helena Shipman.
Father, with Victoria Young , of Bobby and Daisy Keith.
Buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
At the time of his death, Keith was suffering from emphysema and terminal lung cancer, as well as mourning the recent gunshot suicide of his 27-year-old daughter, Daisy Keith , ten weeks earlier. He committed suicide after he returned from a stay at a hospital.
Plays the role of a real president of the United States in both of John Milius s films featuring Theodore Roosevelt. In The Wind and the Lion he co-starred as Roosevelt, himself. In "Rough Riders" , Keith had a bit part as Theodore Roosevelts predecessor, William McKinley (duing the period when Roosevelt served as President McKinleys Assistant Secretary of the Navy).
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Was fluent in Russian.
Before making his mark on screen, Keith acted in stock theater productions and on radio.
His third wife Victoria Young co-starred with him on "The Brian Keith Show" , she played a nurse.
Was good friends with: Robert Fuller , James Drury , Doug McClure , Raymond Burr , Gene Barry , Ernest Borgnine , John Forsythe , Linda Evans , Maureen OHara , Sebastian Cabot , Adam West , Michael Landon , Carroll OConnor , Larry Hagman , Wink Martindale , Dick Van Dyke , Martin Landau , Ben Johnson , James Best , Burt Reynolds , John Huston , John Mills , Geoffrey Lewis , Keye Luke , Alfred Hitchcock , Betty Lynn , Richard Bull , Nancy Walker , Jonathan Winters , Fred MacMurray , Richard Chamberlain , Anne Francis , Charlton Heston , Robert Conrad , Beverly Garland , Mickey Rooney and Sean Connery.
He graduated from East Rockaway High School in East Rockaway, New York, in 1939.
He served as a machine gunner in the United States Marine Corps in World War II, and received an Air Medal.
Actor Daniel Hugh Kelly was said to be a huge fan of Keiths while he was growing up. His favorite movies of Keiths were The Rare Breed and Nevada Smith . Years later, he would land a co-starring role opposite Keith in "Hardcastle and McCormick" , and stayed on the show until its cancellation in 1986.
When future "Family Affair" co-star Johnny Whitaker appeared in the movie The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming , Keith was so impressed by Johnnys acting that he invited him to co-star in Keiths new sitcom.
Actors Kathy Garver and Johnny Whitaker were said to be huge fans of his when they were both growing up. They both co-starred alongside him on "Family Affair" , and stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1971.
Was raised in Long Island, New York, by his grandmother.
His mother, Helena Shipman, died on October 26, 1983.
Though hed been acting since age three, Keith didnt appear in his first film until age 31.
Was offered the role of Deke Thornton in The Wild Bunch , but turned it down, because he was under contract working on "Family Affair" .
Beat out three other actors for the role of the title character in "Hardcastle and McCormick" .
Was diagnosed with emphysema and lung cancer. He also had financial problems and was depressed by the suicide of his daughter, which eventually led to his own suicide.
Remained good friends with Johnny Whitaker and Kathy Garver , during and after "Family Affair" .
Keiths hobbies included: golfing, swimming, spending time with family, cooking, sailing, horseback riding, reading and painting.
Was very disappointed when "Family Affair" , was canceled at the end of its fifth season during CBSs shift to more adult-oriented sitcom fare.
His future "Family Affair" co-star Kathy Garver had guest-starred with him twice: on an episode of his short-lived series, "Crusader" and, just before his death, on the "Spider-Man" cartoon series.
His father, Robert Keith , died on December 22, 1966.
Was a heavy smoker until 1986, quitting a decade before he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
His father Robert Keith and mother Helena Shipman were both actors.
His widow Victoria Young guest-starred with him on 2 episodes of "Hardcastle and McCormick" .
Remained friends with Daniel Hugh Kelly during and after "Hardcastle and McCormick" .
His third wife, Victoria Young , was almost 23 years his junior.
Was an active Republican.
The younger of two children.
Was a close friend of Charlton Heston.
Had four biological children, and adopted three more.
His parents, Robert Keith and Helen Shipman, were married in 1919.
Suffered an eye injury on the set of "Hardcastle and McCormick" . [1985].
Stepson of stage and screen actress Peg Entwistle.
His parents were divorced when he was 4.
Of British descent.
His ambition to follow his father into acting was delayed by World War II.
Had enjoyed playing his role on "Hardcastle and McCormick" .
Had a son, Michael, who died in 1963.
Stepson of Dorothy Tierney.
Was also good friends of John Mills s entire family.
Made a comeback with a successful TV series when he was 62.
Before he found success as an actor, Keith worked in carnivals.
Was raised in the same area as Telly Savalas.
Attended Michael Landon s funeral in 1991.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Uncle Bill Davis on "Family Affair" .
Keiths stepmother Peg Entwistle also committed suicide, jumping from the "H" of the famous Hollywood Sign in 1932.
His daughter Daisy Keith co-starred with him on his final show "Heartland" .
Changed his first name from Robert to Brian Keith, prior to becoming an actor.
Brian Keith died on June 24, 1997. His last work appeared after his death: voice-over work in the final episode of "Spider-Man" , and an on-screen appearance in Follow Your Heart .
Never retired from acting.
Guest starred on the first episode of "Murder, She Wrote" .
Acting mentor and friends of Kathy Garver and Daniel Hugh Kelly.
An Old West buff.
Had boasted of telling CBS executives to go fly a kite when they suggested toning down the content of his series "The Westerner" to make it more appealing to children.
Commuted from Los Angeles to Hawaii to film "The Brian Keith Show" , every week for 2 seasons.
He was disgusted in his role on "Crusader" , because he thought the character was too much a souped-up action hero, not enough a regular guy.
With the success of "Family Affair" , Keith was able to star in another sitcom "The Brian Keith Show" .
Was raised as a Roman Catholic.
Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide three times.
Owned a 200-acre ranch in Redlands, California.
Spent seven years on the New York stage in summer stock and live television before moving to California to find work films.
In 1945, seeking a commission as an officer in the Merchant Marine after four years service in the Marine Corps, Keith was rejected due his poor scores in algebra.
Father of Michael, Mimi, Robert and Daisy, and adoptive father of Barbara, Betty and Rory.
His son, Robert, was named after him and Keiths grandfather.
His father Robert Keith was from Indiana.
Met a young actor James Drury while making the movie, Ten Who Dared ; they became and remained friends until Keiths suicide in 1997.
His third wife, Victoria Young , is Hawaiian.
Used to live not too far from best friend Michael Landon.
Met actor Michael Landon on an episode of "Crusader" . The two became good friends from 1956 until Landons death in 1991.
His mother, Helena Shipman, was originally from Aberdeen, Washington.
Began his career as a contract player for Paramount in 1953.
Had a dog named Mush.
His final film "Rough Riders" was dedicated to his memory.
His second wife Judy Landon was an actress and dancer. They were married for 15 years until their divorce in 1969.
His widow Victoria Young and son Bobby Keith are both artists.
He was always producer Don Fedderson s first choice to play Uncle Bill Davis in "Family Affair" .
Owned a 41 ft. yacht Maialoha off Waikiki.
Was a spokesperson for Camel Cigarettes in the 1950s.
Resided in Malibu, California, for over a quarter of a century, until his death in 1997.
Depression ran in his family.
He was known to be a very private man.
He was cast as the Russian astrophysicist Dr. Dubov in Meteor and Soviet Premier Gorny in World War III because he spoke fluent Russian.
Real talk.
[on his popularity, while playing the forty-five something "Uncle Bill,Davis" on "Family Affair" (1966) ]: This is the type of show I,love, because it reminds me of what happiness I have with my wife and,our children.
Then this thing came along. I read it. I liked it. This character,Hardcastle: I figured I could live with him for five years if I had to.
[on accepting the role as Hardcastle]: You learn to read a pilot script.
I never gave a hoot, I just took what came along.
I played a real nothing named Wally.
[In 1969]: I hope to get some time off this spring for a vacation.
[In 1968]: You have the responsibility to conduct yourself in the best,way you know how to do.
The main thing is to live, if possible, where you feel comfortable.
[on revisiting "The Westerner" (1960) for the first time in,1975]: It was fifteen years since I had seen it. I watched every one.
We always remember things as being better than they were, and only four,or five of these were really good. But those four or five were as good,as anything anybody has ever done.
[In 1977]: Russians put different emphasis in their sentences. When we,may stress the last word in a sentence, they may emphasize a word in,the middle of it.
